Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
Morgan has barely brought back the Plus 8 (using the Aero bits on top of a traditional body), and they have already swapped the V8 out of one of the cars to make an electric vehicle. It actually sounds kinda nice to have an electric car that looks that cool, but it loses 273 hp in the transformation, so I'm still not quite sure if I like it. At least it looks nice: [www.autominded.com]
|
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4576 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
For neck snapping torque right off the line, it's hard to beat an electric motor. I bet it's a lot more fun to drive than the horsepower number indicates.
Back in ~1993 I had some business meetings at Delco Electronics in Kokomo Indiana. At lunchtime my hosts tossed me some keys and said, "You're driving!" Our ride was a humble Geo Prism they'd converted to full electric including regenerative braking. I still remember it as one of the most fun test drives I've ever taken, in any sort of vehicle. When you let off the throttle it was like a motorcycle, with LOTS of engine braking. Very low center of gravity. Super easy to drive well. It would have been a fantastic autocross car! Bonus: the stereo sounded great (on account of there was no engine noise.) |
djw090 David Witham Warwick UK (115 posts) Registered: 06/12/2008 11:20AM Main British Car: MGB 1974 and MG ZT 160 turbo 2005 |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
Talking of stereo, if you had an electric Morgan with a CD player you could use the CD out of the Nick Mason book about his vehicle collection. It contains the spound tracks of most of his cars. I think it includes the 16 cylinder BRM.
|
danmas Dan Masters Alcoa, Tennessee (578 posts) Registered: 10/28/2007 12:11AM Main British Car: 1974 MGBGT Ford 302 |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
The only reason we have have gas engines instead of electric is because of the difficulty of building a suitable fuel tank. Building a tank to hold gas is pretty easy; building a tank (battery) to hold electricity is a challenge. Its not for nothing that railroad locomotives use electric motors for propulsion. Lacking suitable electricity tanks, they generate electricity as needed via diesel engines.
|
djw090 David Witham Warwick UK (115 posts) Registered: 06/12/2008 11:20AM Main British Car: MGB 1974 and MG ZT 160 turbo 2005 |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
As well as the tank/battery issue there is the refueling time and range. 3 minutes at the petrol station or overnight recharge.
|
socorob Robbie La (173 posts) Registered: 09/17/2009 04:42PM Main British Car: 1963 Sunbeam Alpine Series 2 Ford 2.8 V6 |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8
I think some of the very first cars were electric. Kinda strange how things come full circle.
|
roverman Art Gertz Winchester, CA. (3188 posts) Registered: 04/24/2009 11:02AM Main British Car: 74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L |
Re: Morgan makes Plus E by swapping BMW V8, 1912 Baker ?
Actually, In our lobby, is a national treasure,(for real), the worlds First solar powered car. International Rectifier scientist built the solar panels back in the fifties. It's not much of a hot rod, but it is historic. Let's start a waiting list to buy a "Tata air powered car". Only 50 rupies to fill it up, 185 mile range, very small carbon footprint. Exhaust temperature is 0-15 F. Zoom Zoom, roverman.
|
|